Australian carriers Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia will prohibit passengers from using or charging portable power banks on all flights from early December 2025.
Virgin Australia will enforce the ban from 1 Dec 2025, while Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar will introduce the same rule from 15 Dec 2025.
The prohibition applies to both domestic and international services operated by these airlines, with no exemptions stated for specific routes or aircraft types.
What Passengers Can and Cannot Do with Power Banks
Passengers on these airlines will still be allowed to bring power banks on board, but only in cabin baggage.
Power banks must not be placed in checked luggage under any circumstances, consistent with existing dangerous goods rules for loose lithium batteries.
From the effective dates, passengers will not be permitted to use power banks to charge phones, tablets, laptops, or any other device during the flight.
Charging the power bank itself during the flight, including via in-seat AC or USB outlets, is also prohibited.
Under the new policies, each passenger may carry a maximum of two power banks in their carry-on baggage.
Watt-hour Limits and Approval Rules
On Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar flights, each power bank must not exceed a capacity of 160 watt-hours (Wh).
Virgin Australia allows power banks up to 100Wh without prior approval, and requires airline approval for power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh.
Devices above 160Wh are not permitted on Virgin Australia or Qantas Group flights.
The airlines require that power banks clearly display their capacity in Wh or in a form that allows crew to verify compliance.
Where Power Banks Must be Stored in the Cabin
All four airlines require power banks to be kept in places that crew and passengers can access quickly, such as under the seat in front, in the seat pocket, or on the passenger’s person.
Virgin Australia’s policy states that power banks must not be stowed in overhead lockers, so they remain in sight or within easy reach.
Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar allow power banks to be placed in nearby overhead lockers if they cannot be kept under the seat or in the seat pocket, but they must still be easily reachable by crew.
These storage rules apply in addition to the existing requirement that spare lithium batteries and power banks be carried only in cabin baggage, not in the hold.
Inflight Fires and Safety Concerns
The new ban follows a fire involving a power bank in an overhead compartment on a Virgin Australia flight in July 2025.
In that incident, the power bank ignited in the overhead locker during flight, prompting the cabin crew to extinguish the fire and manage the smoke in the cabin.
Australian media reports also refer to recent power bank or lithium-battery fires on other carriers, including an Air China service in October 2025 and an Air Busan flight in January 2025, both of which involved overhead bin fires and emergency responses.
The airlines have linked their decision to a broader pattern of lithium battery incidents globally over recent years.
Impact on Charging Options for Passengers
Passengers on Virgin Australia will still be able to charge phones and small devices using USB outlets at their seats, where fitted, but they will not be allowed to connect power banks to those ports.
Virgin Australia reports that about 88% of its Boeing 737 fleet currently offers in-seat charging, with plans to extend this across the remaining aircraft by around mid-2026, and all Embraer 190-E2 regional and charter aircraft already provide in-seat power.
Qantas states that most of its mainline aircraft have some form of in-seat power or USB charging available, while Jetstar currently offers in-seat power mainly on its long-haul Boeing 787 services to destinations such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
Passengers on shorter domestic routes without in-seat power will need to board with devices already charged to their preferred level, because they will not be able to top up using power banks during the flight.
Limits on Medical and Other Special-use Batteries
Qantas and Virgin Australia say there will be no special exemptions from the new “no use, no charging” rule for power banks, even for passengers who usually rely on them for medical devices.
Battery-powered medical equipment may still be brought into the cabin under existing dangerous goods and medical equipment rules, but any separate power bank used only as a general portable charger will still be covered by the ban.
Standard airline approvals for certain larger battery-powered mobility aids or medical devices continue to apply through the usual pre-travel clearance channels, separate from the power bank policy.
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